The 2012 Minotaur Books/ Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Competition

In 2007, Stefanie Pintoff launched her career
with "In the Shadow of Gotham," winner of the
1st Minotaur Books First Crime Novel award

Sponsored by Minotaur Books (a St. Martins Press imprint) and Mystery Writers of America (MWA), the Competition is open to any writer, regardless of nationality, aged 18 or older, who has never been the author of any Published Novel in any genre, (except that authors of self-published works only may enter, as long as the manuscript submitted is not the self-published work) and is not under contract with a publisher for publication of a novel.

To enter, you must first request an entry form. All requests for entry forms must be received by Minotaur Books by email by November 15, 2011.

But it is important that you submit your Manuscript as early as possible. Our judges are volunteers who are extremely busy with their primary concerns, and submissions will get a more careful reading if the judge does not have to contend with a flood of last-minute entries.

Murder or another serious crime or crimes must be at the heart of the story.

Nominees will be selected by judges chosen by the Mystery Writers of America, with the assistance of the editorial staff of Minotaur Books, and the winner will be chosen by Minotaur Books editors on the basis of the originality, creativity and writing skill of the submission.

Minotaur Books reserves the right to cancel or modify the competition if, in the sole opinion of the editors, an insufficient number of qualified Manuscripts are received.

If a winner is selected, Minotaur Books will offer to enter into its standard form author's agreement with the entrant for publication of the winning Manuscript, including an advance against future royalties of $10,000. The winner will then be recognized at the Edgar Awards Banquet in New York City in April 2012.
 
Complete rules here.
 
See Brian Henry's schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Kingston, Peterborough, Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Georgetown, Oakville, Burlington, St. Catharines, Hamilton, Kitchener, Guelph, London, Woodstock, Orangeville, Barrie, Gravenhurst, Sudbury, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.